Do first year associates have their own offices? - Big Law Masterlist Forum

[Anonymous User]

Please include the following:

1. Firm
2. Market/City
3. What year are you?
4. Do first years have their own office? Does this vary by practice group?
• If yes, please provide details about space, window/settings, see through office? downsides? unique upsides?, etc.
• If no, when do associates get their own offices? do first years share an office with others? If so how many people?
• How has covid/WFH changed things?


*Also, incoming associates, laterals, incoming summers -- feel free to request info for firms.
*I'll compile info later

[Anonymous User]

Request: Sidley Austin Chicago

[Anonymous User]

DPW NY?

[Anonymous User]

kirkland chi?

[Anonymous User]

@OP, won’t some of this info vary by class year? (e.g., first years have shared offices, while second and above have dedicated offices) Maybe something to add to your questionnaire.

I also wonder if hybrid/WFH plans will render the info people share here about their current set-up obsolete.

[Anonymous User]

@OP, won’t some of this info vary by class year? (e.g., first years have shared offices, while second and above have dedicated offices) Maybe something to add to your questionnaire.

I also wonder if hybrid/WFH plans will render the info people share here about their current set-up obsolete.

Added! Thanks. I didn't consider that there were differences based on class year but I suppose that would make sense.

[Anonymous User]

Request: Sidley Austin Chicago

I can confirm they do for Sidley. I am almost positive this is true for every other biglaw firm in Chicago as well. The offices on the north, south, and east side of the building have nice views, especially for litigation (top floors). The offices themselves are standard-fare for biglaw.

The cafe is decent and free (for now at least).

[Anonymous User]

Am not going to name my firm (not KE or Sidley) because it’s not particularly useful information but my understanding is that it’s standard in Chicago to have individual offices. It’s not NY. Depending on the firm, might not be a window office, or might be glass walls.

[Anonymous User]

Dupe

[Anonymous User]

Request: Sidley Austin Chicago

I can confirm they do for Sidley. I am almost positive this is true for every other biglaw firm in Chicago as well. The offices on the north, south, and east side of the building have nice views, especially for litigation (top floors). The offices themselves are standard-fare for biglaw.

The cafe is decent and free (for now at least).

Thanks!! What are the hours for the cafe? can you go at any time and do they serve both breakfast and lunch? This derails the topic a bit but I think a lot of soon to be SAs are probably very curious (myself included).

[Anonymous User]

Am not going to name my firm (not KE or Sidley) because it’s not particularly useful information but my understanding is that it’s standard in Chicago to have individual offices. It’s not NY. Depending on the firm, might not be a window office, or might be glass walls.

If window office vs. no window office vs. glass walls depends on the firm, it probably would be helpful to name the firm? You're anonymous and revealing no identifiable information so why did you comment if you aren't going to specify / add anything to the conversation.

[Anonymous User]

anyone know for milbank ny?

[Anonymous User]

not sure if they still do but few years ago had a S/O (2nd year associate) at Paul Weiss NY that had to share an office

[Anonymous User]

Does it make a huge difference to have your own office versus a shared one? As long as you like your office mate it could be nice to have someone to talk to esp. during the first year.

[Anonymous User]

Request: Skadden (LA) or (SF).

[HenryHankPalmer]

I have never heard of associates sharing an office in the Texas office of any big firm. You may have to slum it in an interior office as a first year, but you’ll generally have your own.

[Anonymous User]

Does it make a huge difference to have your own office versus a shared one? As long as you like your office mate it could be nice to have someone to talk to esp. during the first year.

As someone who has shared offices in previous jobs, yes it does make a huge difference. Being able to close the door, play your music/podcast/sports, have conference calls on speaker, eat without worrying about it bothering them, just having your own space. If you want to talk to someone you can pop by a friend’s office.

[Anonymous User]

anyone know for milbank ny?

Group dependent, but there are third years still sharing offices at Milbank NY

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland Chicago yes, IIRC all window offices. Not too big, not too small.

[Anonymous User]

anyone know for milbank ny?

Group dependent, but there are third years still sharing offices at Milbank NY

oh man, not excited about this. know anything about their corporate group?

[Anonymous User]

When I was at Davis Polk in late '10s-2020, the firm notoriously had an office space crunch in NYC that led to shared offices for surprisingly senior associates. I think some fourth years might've been sharing offices depending on group, and I shared with a fifth year as an SA. The best way to get your own space as a junior was to have an interior office. Some first years might've shared in the most-crunched groups, but I think all second-years and up had their own if they sat inside.

[Anonymous User]

Kirkland Chicago yes, IIRC all window offices. Not too big, not too small.

Yep, though k&e is moving to a different office next year. The office space situation is likely to stay the same.

[Anonymous User]

When I was at Davis Polk in late '10s-2020, the firm notoriously had an office space crunch in NYC that led to shared offices for surprisingly senior associates. I think some fourth years might've been sharing offices depending on group, and I shared with a fifth year as an SA. The best way to get your own space as a junior was to have an interior office. Some first years might've shared in the most-crunched groups, but I think all second-years and up had their own if they sat inside.

Excuse my ignorance but what is an interior office? Not familiar with what "sat inside" means?

[Anonymous User]

When I was at Davis Polk in late '10s-2020, the firm notoriously had an office space crunch in NYC that led to shared offices for surprisingly senior associates. I think some fourth years might've been sharing offices depending on group, and I shared with a fifth year as an SA. The best way to get your own space as a junior was to have an interior office. Some first years might've shared in the most-crunched groups, but I think all second-years and up had their own if they sat inside.

Excuse my ignorance but what is an interior office? Not familiar with what "sat inside" means?

Diff anon but I think this means non window office.

[Anonymous User]

DPW anon here: correct that the offices were non-window. Most floors had inward facing offices across from the outside. They were actually pretty nice. Fully frosted glass, sliding doors, more modern standing desk and accoutrements, more floor space than even a solo exterior associate office. Maybe its just cope but I preferred it to sharing.